AEG Ogden announced the appointment of Erica Blythe as the director of Finance and Administration for International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney). ICC Sydney opens in December 2016. With more than 14 years of experience in finance roles within the hospitality industry, Blythe joins ICC Sydney after four years as the Regional Financial Controller for NSW and ACT with Accor and 16 years with the group.
Strathmore has hired Joi Brown as its new vice president of Programming for the 1,976-seat Music Center at Strathmore. Brown is the founder and director of 4Site Programming, a firm that has provided support for performing arts centers and arts organizations across the country. Prior to founding 4Site, Brown was the VP for Programming & Education at Omaha Performing Arts, where she provided artistic direction for the historic 2,600-seat Orpheum Theater, as well as the 2,000-seat Holland Performing Arts Center.
The New Jersey Devils and Prudential Center, Newark, N.J., have appointed Daniel Cherry III as their new chief marketing and innovation officer. Cherry joins the National Hockey League club’s management team from alcoholic drinks giant Diageo, where he served as senior vice president of marketing. His previous experience in the world of sport comes from a stint at North American Soccer League’s New York Cosmos, where he was also chief marketing officer.
imago has promoted Liam Clamp to the position of Marketing manager. A graduate of Leeds Beckett University, Clamp joined imago as Marketing executive in November 2011.
The St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission has hired Dana Dhom as Sales manager. Dhom will be responsible for sales leads and room bookings for associations with 600-plus peak room nights in the Southeastern region. Prior to this, Dhom worked in event sales for Six Flags St. Louis.
Gateway Ticketing Systems has promoted Don Eash to executive vice president and COO. Eash, who joined the company in 2014 as the director of Operations, brings with him more than two decades of industry experience in strategic IT leadership, systems implementation and technology support. Eash was the senior director of Information Technology at Universal Orlando. Before joining Universal Orlando, Eash held management positions at both WellSpan Health in York, Pa. and Walt Disney World in Orlando.
The St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission has hired Kristi Franklin as its Executive Meetings Sales manager. Franklin will be responsible for producing sales leads for St. Louis with an emphasis on 125 and under peak room nights. Prior to this, Franklin worked six years as the Office Service coordinator for the Saint Louis County Health Department — Food & Environmental Protection. She also worked four years at Hyatt Regency Union Station Hotel as a sales administrative assistant.
The SMG-managed Intrust Bank Arena, Wichita, Kan., has hired Jason Gibson as director of Event Services. Gibson previously worked for Feld Entertainment in multiple capacities for more than 18 years, most recently serving as the general manager of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
Danny Wimmer Presents has made several new additions to its executive team and support personnel as it prepares for aggressive growth in 2016. These include Vice Chairman Tony Guanci, Executive Vice President Gary Spivack, Senior Vice President of Operations Charlie Jennings and Vice President of Marketing Eileen Mercolino. Guanci brings over 30 years of professional experience in the areas of business development, mergers and acquisitions, strategic planning, and management as well as an overall knowledge of the sports and entertainment industries. Spivack has three decades of music industry experience, including a successful history in talent buying, marketing and curating hard rock and alternative rock music events across North America. A concert industry veteran of 13 years, Jennings previously served as VP and producer at AC Entertainment, where he oversaw the operations and production for AC’s concerts and festivals. Mercolino has held a range of marketing, sponsorship and artist relations positions at companies including Gibson Guitar, Hard Rock Cafe, and the Vans Warped Tour.
The Board of Directors for The Eli and Edythe Broad Stage at the Santa Monica (Calif.) College Performing Arts Center has appointed veteran arts executive Wiley Hausam as the organization’s new artistic and executive director. Hausam will assume his new role at The Broad Stage on Oct. 1. He will be charged with leading the Santa Monica cultural institution through the opening of its newly-expanded $23-million East Wing facilities on the SMC Performing Arts campus in early 2016. Hausam has over 20 years of experience both as a producer and executive. Since 2012, he has served as executive director of Stanford Live, a presenter and producer of music, dance, theater and opera at Stanford (Calif.) University. He also launched the university’s new, state-of-the-art vineyard-style venue, Bing Concert Hall, which has doubled attendance at performing arts events since its opening in 2013.
Lori Kramer, deputy director at Portland’5 Centers for the Arts, Portland, Ore., retires after 30 years of service. Kramer, CFE, was also the sales and ticket services manager for the organization formerly known as Portland Center for the Performing Arts (PCPA). Kramer started at PCPA in 1985, working part time in the marketing and sales department. When the Antoinette Hatfield Hall opened in 1987, Kramer assumed the position of office manager, and then was promoted to director of booking in 1988. In 2001, she was designated as director of booking and ticketing, and in 2007, she was promoted to deputy director. Kramer is an active leader in the venue trade association, International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM). In 1997, she's a graduate of the Public Assembly Facility Management School at Oglebay, Virginia, and IAVM’s Senior Executive Symposium in 2008. She served on IAVM’s SES board, IAVM’s Performing Arts Committee and IAVM’s Region IV’s Director. She also served on the IAVM Region 4 Executive Committee for many years, including Director of the region from 2012 to 2014.
TopTix has brought on Fred Maglione as Executive Chairman of The Americas. Maglione brings over 40 years experience working with various organizations in the live sports, entertainment, leisure and ticketing industries. Prior to joining TopTix, Maglione served as president and CEO of New Era Tickets for over 15 years, overseeing both their ticketing services and digital marketing businesses. He also oversaw the international expansion of the business into Singapore and spearheaded the launch of the FanOne Marketing digital marketing platform.
Visit Spokane has appointed Chris McKinney to the position of director of National Accounts. McKinney will work with meeting planners — specifically in the health, medical, scientific and engineering markets — to bring conventions and meetings to the Spokane region. A veteran of hotel industry sales, he previously worked for Marriot, Hilton and, most recently, Renaissance Seattle Hotel.
Longtime fair executive Tom Musser has joined the GF Strategies team as a project manager. Musser just wrapped up a 35-year career in the fair industry after five years as the manager of the Merced County (Calif.) Fair. Prior to that Musser was the manager of the Clark County Fair in Ridgefield, Wash., from 1997 to 2009.
The St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission has hired David Rayment as the new National Convention Sales manager. With more than 25 years of event hospitality industry experience, Rayment previously worked as the director of National Accounts – West Coast Region for Gaylord Hotels.
The St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission has promoted Patti Sanders to the position of Convention Services manager. With more than 15 years of experience in the sales department, Sanders previously worked as senior Sales coordinator. Prior to that, Sanders spent over 15 years in the mortgage banking industry.